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Alternate attack for junana hon kata

The other week I mentioned a little randori experiment we undertook in aikido that involved evading multiple attacks of either yokomen uchi or shomen uchi. I talked a little bit about how the novelty of the kind of attack seemed to take everyone a little off guard, as if they didn't know quite how to handle it, even though their aikido would work just fine regardless.

So, just for the heck of it, I thought, why not spend a few classes doing junana hon kata, the 17, with either a yokomen uchi, shomen uchi or in some cases a tsuki (thrust, like a punch to the stomach) attack. Certain techniques seem to be better suited for one attack or the other, I noticed. Not much changes, really, in terms of how the technique itself is performed; the only real difference is how you start off. This list by no means comprises all the variations you could do, but perhaps it may serve as a starting point.

Atemi waza1) Shomen ate — uke attacks with yokomen uchi2) Aigamae ate — uke attacks with shomen uchi (Step to the side, outside uke's arm. As he recovers his balance, lifting his arm as if to strike again, follow it up, one hand on his elbow, the other on his chin)3) Gyakugamae ate — shomen uchi (Step to the side, outside uke's arm. As uke raises, the left hand goes to the face.)4) Gedan ate — shomen uchi (Same as above, but as you step to the side, your left hand is caught under uke's arm. Numbers 3 and 4 are a lot like the Merritt Steven's system, incidentally.)5) Ushiro ate — yokomen uchi (Take a turning step to the inside. "Chop" with the right hand to the inside of uke's elbow. This has a way of spinning him around. As he does, reach up with your left and grab his far shoulder.)

Hiji waza6) Oshi taoshi — shomen uchi (Just go straight to it, like the initial technique of san kata or the Ueshiba style ikkyo.)7) Ude gaeshi — shomen uchi (Start oshi taoshi as above, then when uke rises, slip in ude gaeshi. You also go right to ude gaeshi after you step to the outside of the attack without oshi taoshi.)8) Hiki taoshi — shomen uchi (Step to the outside, get your butterfly grip and proceed as usual.)9) Ude hineri — shomen uchi (Start as above, then proceed into ude hineri.)10) Waki gatame — yokomen uchi (Step to the inside, right hand on uke's wrist. Lift his arm up and across his face until you're in the waki gatame position. This is a version students of KG's "23" kata will recognize.)

Tekubi waza11) Kote hineri — shomen uchi (Go straight to it, like ikkyo.)12) Kote gaeshi — tsuki (Step to the outside, and either continue in a turning "tenken" action until uke comes around, or allow uke to pull his hand back as in san kata or the Merritt Steven system.)13) Tenkai kote hineri — shomen uchi (Step to the outside, get your grip and turn under uke's arm as he turns toward you.)14) Shiho nage — yokomen uchi (Not a long to do different really. This technique comes pretty natural to this attack.)

Uki waza15) Mae otoshi — yokomen uchi (Same as above. Seems pretty natural.)16) Sumi otoshi — yokomen uchi or shomen uchi (You can do a long, drawn out version from a yokomen attack, or do a shomen attack, step to the outside and do a very quick sumi otoshi, Old School Tomiki style.)17) Hiki otoshi — shomen uchi (Just connect and step back, Old School Tomiki style)